Scientists discovered: The oceans are "aging" – and this could be deadly

A new study from the University of California San Diego reveals that global warming is damaging the natural ventilation mechanism of the oceans. A computer simulation for the next hundred years shows a paradoxical scenario in the Pacific Ocean: oxygen-rich waters are aging rapidly, while oxygen-poor waters undergo "rejuvenation." The implications concern the future of the marine ecosystem.

A new study led by researchers from the University of California San Diego, published in the journal AGU Advances, reveals a concerning phenomenon: ocean waters are "aging" as a result of global warming. The term "water age" refers to the length of time a water mass remains in the depths, disconnected from the surface, without the ability to replenish its oxygen supply. Under normal conditions, winds and ocean currents mix the layers, but warming waters disrupt this mechanism. A computer simulation examining Pacific Ocean currents over the next hundred years points to a paradoxical scenario: in the North Pacific, oxygen-rich waters become trapped in the depths and age rapidly, while in the tropical region, old, oxygen-poor waters stop rising, and the waters become "younger." The implications concern the future of the marine ecosystem, especially in the North Pacific, where the sharp decline in oxygen will render vast habitats unsuitable for fish and underwater creatures. The study clarifies that the impact of warming is not limited to rising sea levels but damages the fundamental breathing mechanism of the oceans.